Chesnee man charged with impersonating an officer

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 9:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 9:31 p.m.

A Chesnee man has been charged after hospital officers say he told ER staff that he was a police officer investigating the theft of a motorcycle license tag.

According to an incident report, Thomas Reid Kirk, 42, of 418 W. Oconee St., entered the ER lobby about 2 a.m. and asked to see a patient. He told staff that he was investigating a stolen tag connected to a motorcycle accident, the report states.

When a hospital staff member asked Kirk if he was a police officer, Kirk said, “I'm working with the police, yes,” according to the report. He produced a black wallet containing a gold badge and was allowed access to the ER, the report states.

State troopers at the ER investigating the crash told hospital staff that they had no knowledge of Kirk. The hospital officer became suspicious and checked Spartanburg County Detention Facility records and found that Kirk had been arrested in the past, according to the report. Hospital officers tried to find Kirk, who had shown his driver's license to nursing staff, but he had apparently already left the hospital.

Kirk was arrested Tuesday and charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, an arrest warrant states. He was released from jail on a $2,000 bond.

<p>A Chesnee man has been charged after hospital officers say he told ER staff that he was a police officer investigating the theft of a motorcycle license tag.</p><p>According to an incident report, Thomas Reid Kirk, 42, of 418 W. Oconee St., entered the ER lobby about 2 a.m. and asked to see a patient. He told staff that he was investigating a stolen tag connected to a motorcycle accident, the report states.</p><p>When a hospital staff member asked Kirk if he was a police officer, Kirk said, “I'm working with the police, yes,” according to the report. He produced a black wallet containing a gold badge and was allowed access to the ER, the report states.</p><p>State troopers at the ER investigating the crash told hospital staff that they had no knowledge of Kirk. The hospital officer became suspicious and checked Spartanburg County Detention Facility records and found that Kirk had been arrested in the past, according to the report. Hospital officers tried to find Kirk, who had shown his driver's license to nursing staff, but he had apparently already left the hospital.</p><p>Kirk was arrested Tuesday and charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, an arrest warrant states. He was released from jail on a $2,000 bond.</p>